Expandable multi-compartment luggage

ABSTRACT

An expandable multi-compartment luggage having a second luggage bag hingeably attached to the first luggage bag. The second luggage bag having an upper portion and a collapsible lower portion. The collapsible lower portion being moveable between a collapsed position to an expanded position defining a lower interior compartment. The luggage also including a dividing wall disposed between the upper and lower portions of the second luggage bag, and which is movable from a closed position dividing the upper interior compartment of the second luggage bag and the lower interior compartment of the second luggage bag and an open position with the upper interior compartment of the second luggage bag being in communication with the lower interior compartment of the second luggage bag.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims benefit from U.S. Provisional Patent ApplicationNo. 61/510,858, filed Jul. 22, 2011, the contents of which are herebyincorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention is generally in the field of luggage. More particularly,the invention relates to multi-compartment luggage which is expandableand collapsible and reconfigurable.

2. Brief Description of the Prior Art

Luggage is often times used by travelers and others in order totransport clothing and other items, such as, toiletries and souvenirsbetween locations. The available storage space within a luggage bag isnormally constrained by its design limitations and the construction ofthe bag. Thus, travelers often times have multiple pieces or a set ofluggage to suit their various needs, such as, for example, a smallerduffle for a weekend trip or a larger rolling suitcase for a longervacation. However, it is desirable to have a single article of luggagewhich is expandable and collapsible to allow the user to change theinterior volume and which is versatile and reconfigurable depending onthe user's needs.

In addition, travelers have long sought out ways to maximize the amountof space in their luggage to allow for the packing of as many items aspossible. Often times, a traveler will return home from a trip with moreitems than they departed with, having purchased souvenirs during theirtravels and left to figure out a way of transporting these new itemsbecause their luggage is already packed to capacity. It is, therefore,useful to have an article of luggage with greater versatility which iscapable of expanding and collapsing and is reconfigurable.

While the prior art discloses many types of luggage, so far as is known,none of the prior art devices afford this versatility in a simple,effective and yet highly advantageous manner as does the presentinvention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a novel article ofluggage.

It is also an object of the invention to provide an article of luggagewith greater versatility and which is reconfigurable.

It is another object of the invention to provide an article of luggagewith multiple compartments.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an article of luggagewhich is capable of expanding and collapsing.

It is yet another object of the invention to provide an article ofluggage wherein two luggage compartment can be combined into a largersingle compartment.

It is also an object of the invention to provide an article of luggagewhich is simpler and less expensive to manufacture than the prior artluggage.

Certain of the foregoing and related objects are readily attainedaccording to the present invention by the provision of an expandablemulti-compartment luggage, comprising a first luggage bag having foursidewalls, and a closed bottom which define a first interior compartmenttherebetween; a second luggage bag hingeably attached to said firstluggage bag and moveable between a first closed position whereby saidsecond luggage bag is connected to said first luggage bag to restrictaccess to said interior compartment of said first luggage bag, and asecond open position to provide access to said interior compartment ofsaid first luggage bag, wherein said second luggage bag has an upperportion and a collapsible lower portion, said lower portion having aclosed bottom and four lower sidewalls, each having an upper edgecollectively defining an upper rim and said upper portion having fourgenerally upstanding upper sidewalls defining an upper interiorcompartment therebetween, each of said upper sidewalls having a loweredge collectively defining a lower rim which is releasably coupleable toa portion of said upper rim of said lower portion, wherein said upperportion has an upper rim defining an openable top, and wherein saidcollapsible lower portion is moveable between a collapsed position to anexpanded position defining a lower interior compartment between saidclosed bottom and four lower sidewalls of said lower portion; and adividing wall disposed between said upper and lower portions of saidsecond luggage bag, said dividing wall being movable from a closedposition dividing said upper interior compartment of said second luggagebag and said lower interior compartment of said second luggage bag andan open position wherein said upper interior compartment of said secondluggage bag is in communication with said lower interior compartment ofsaid second luggage bag.

Preferably, the luggage further comprises a first zipper, wherein saidfour sidewalls of said first luggage bag each have a top edge and saidsecond luggage bag is hingeably attached to said top edge of one of saidsidewalls of said first luggage bag and said first zipper extends aroundsaid top edges of said other three sidewalls of said first luggage bag.It is also preferred that the luggage further comprise a plurality ofwheels and a handle attached to said first luggage bag.

Desirably, the luggage further comprises four generally rigid foldablewalls which have a size which generally corresponds to the size of saidfour lower sidewalls of said second luggage bag and wherein said fourlower sidewalls each have a lower edge and said foldable walls are eachconnected to one of said four lower sidewalls generally adjacent to saidlower edge and are moveable from a flat position wherein said foldablewalls overlie said closed bottom of said lower portion and a generallyupright position wherein said foldable walls each overlie one of saidlower sidewalls. Advantageously, each of said foldable walls has a hookand loop fastener and each of said lower sidewalls of said secondluggage bag has a corresponding hook and loop faster, each of whichreleasably engages with one of said hook and loop fasteners on saidfoldable walls, to maintain said foldable walls in said uprightposition.

Preferably, the dividing wall has a flap disposed therein and a zipperextending around a portion of the periphery of said flap. It is alsopreferred that a second zipper extends around said lower portion of saidsecond luggage bag for maintaining said lower portion in said collapsedposition.

In the preferred embodiment, a third zipper which extends around saidupper edge of three of said lower sidewalls of said lower portion ofsaid second luggage bag and a pair of handles, each coupled to anopposite sidewall of said upper portion of said second luggage bag.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other objects and features of the present invention will become apparentfrom the detailed description considered in connection with theaccompanying drawings, which disclose several embodiments of theinvention. It is to be understood that the drawings are to be used forthe purpose of illustration only and not as a definition of the limitsof the invention.

FIG. 1 is a front and right side perspective view of the luggage,according to the present invention, shown in its collapsed position;

FIG. 2 is a rear elevational view thereof;

FIG. 3 is a front elevational view thereof;

FIG. 4 is a right side elevational view thereof;

FIG. 5 is a left side elevational view thereof;

FIG. 6 is a top plan view thereof;

FIG. 7 is a bottom plan view thereof;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the luggage, in its non-expanded, openposition;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the luggage, in its expanded position,with the lower portion of the second luggage bag open and the foldablewalls being moved between their folded position and their uprightposition;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the luggage, similar to FIG. 9, butwith all of the folded walls in their upright positions; and

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the luggage, similar to FIG. 9, withthe dividing wall disposed between the upper and lower portions of thesecond luggage bag unzipped and folded downwardly.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Turning now in detail to the drawings, and in particular FIGS. 1-7,which depict the expandable multi-compartment luggage, according to thepresent invention, generally designated by reference numeral 10. Luggage10 comprises a first luggage bag or rolling suitcase, generallydesignated by reference numeral 20, and an attached, expandable andcollapsible second luggage bag or duffle, generally designated byreference numeral 30 (shown in FIGS. 1-7 in its collapsed position).

As shown best in FIG. 7, first luggage bag 20 has two conventionalwheels 22 disposed on one end thereof and a conventional, extendable andretractable handle 24 disposed on the opposite end thereof. Handle 24 ismoveable from a first, stored position in which it is disposed within ahandle housing 11 formed in first luggage bag 20, as seen best in FIGS.4 and 7, to a second, extended position wherein it is extended outwardlyfrom handle housing 11 (not shown). Luggage 10 is capable of beingtilted to a generally upright position and rolled along wheels 22 viathe extended handle 24. In addition, as seen in FIGS. 1-8, first luggagebag 20 has four generally rigid sidewalls 26 a-26 d, and a generallyrigid closed bottom 28 which define a first interior compartment 23therebetween, for storage of various items therein such as clothing,shoes, toiletries, etc.

As seen in FIG. 8, second luggage bag 30 is hingeably connected to firstluggage bag 20, preferably via hinge 29, in order to maintain aconnection between first luggage bag 20 and second luggage bag 30.Particularly, the four sidewalls 26 a-26 d of first luggage bag 20 eachhave a top edge 27 a-27 d, respectively. Second luggage bag 30 isattached via hinge 29 to at least a portion of top edge 27 a of sidewall26 a. Zipper 21 is comprised of two conventional zipper tracks, one ofwhich wraps around the top edges 27 b-d of sidewalls 26 b-26 d,respectively, and a portion of top edge 27 a of sidewall 26 a, and theother of which extends along a corresponding portion on the bottom ofsecond luggage bag 30, in order to releasably attach first luggage bag20 to second luggage bag 30.

The hinge 29 allows second luggage bag 30 to be hingeably moveablebetween an open position, as seen in FIG. 8, to a closed position, asseen in FIGS. 1-7. In the closed position in FIGS. 1-7 and 9-11, secondluggage bag 30 is connected to first luggage bag 20 via zipper 21 andhinge 29, in order to close bag 20 and restrict access to interiorcompartment 23. In the open position in FIG. 8, zipper 21 is released toprovide access to the interior compartment 23 of first luggage bag 20.The second luggage bag 30 can be folded back via hinge 29 to revealinterior compartment 23, so that desired items can be placed therein.Zipper 21 can then be zipped to close bag 20, to assume the closedconfiguration in FIGS. 1-7 and 9-11.

Second luggage bag 30 can also be used to store items therein and ismovable between a first, non-expanded configuration, as seen in FIGS.1-8 and a second, expanded configuration, as seen in FIGS. 9-11, toprovide for a smaller or larger interior volume, respectively, as isdesired. Particularly, second luggage bag 30 has an upper portion 31 andan expandable and collapsible lower portion 32. As will be describedmore fully below, second luggage bag 30 is also reconfigurable to allowthe interior luggage compartments of the upper and lower portions 31 and32, respectively, to be either two separate compartments or joinedtogether into a single larger compartment.

In the non-expanded or collapsed configuration in FIGS. 1-8, twoseparate interior luggage compartments are provided, namely, one withinfirst luggage bag 20 and a second within upper portion 31 of secondluggage bag 30. In the expanded configuration, a first luggagecompartment is provided within first luggage bag 20, a second luggagecompartment is provided within lower portion 32 of second luggage bag30, and a third luggage compartment is provided within upper portion 31of second luggage bag 30. As mentioned previously, the interior luggagecompartments within the upper portion 31 and lower portion 32 of secondluggage bag 30 can be joined together or separated.

As seen in FIG. 9, lower portion 32 has a closed bottom 33 and fourflexible lower sidewalls 34 a-34 d. Each of sidewalls 34 a-34 d have anupper edge 35 a-35 d, respectively, which collectively define an upperrim. In addition, lower sidewalls 34 a-34 d are made of a flexiblematerial to allow them to collapse and, in turn, fold upon themselves,when in the non-expanded or collapsed position.

As seen best in FIGS. 1-7, upper portion 31 has four generallyupstanding but generally flexible upper sidewalls 36 a-36 d defining aduffle bag-like configuration having an upper interior compartment 43therebetween. As shown in FIG. 9, each of upper sidewalls 36 a-36 d havea lower edge 37 a-37 d, respectively, collectively defining a lower rimwhich is releasably coupleable to at least a portion of the upper rim oflower portion 32 via a zipper 60 and hinge 61, as described more fullybelow. In addition, as shown in FIGS. 1-7 upper portion 31 has an upperrim with a zipper 38 defining an openable top, to provide access tointerior compartment 43, to allow items to be placed and stored therein.

The collapsible and expandable lower portion 32 is moveable between acollapsed position, as seen in FIGS. 1-7, to an expanded position, asseen in FIGS. 9-11. In the expanded configuration in FIGS. 9-11, a lowerinterior compartment 39 is defined between closed bottom 33 and fourlower sidewalls 34 a-34 d to provide an additional interior compartmentwhich is otherwise concealed in the collapsed position. Interiorcompartment 39 is separate from interior compartment 23 of first luggagebag 20, but is versatile and reconfigurable and optionally, separatefrom interior compartment 43 of upper portion 31 (FIGS. 9-10) or incommunication with interior compartment 43 of upper portion 31 (FIG.11). In the collapsed position, because of their flexible nature, lowersidewalls 34 a-34 d collapse downwardly and fold upon themselves tooverlie closed bottom 33.

As seen in FIGS. 1-7, in order to maintain second luggage bag 30 in itscollapsed position, a zipper 44 is provided. Zipper 44 is a conventionalzipper having two tracks, one of which extends around the lowerperiphery of lower portion 32 of second luggage bag 30, generallyadjacent to zipper 21, and the other of which extends around acorresponding portion of lower edges 37 a-37 d of upper portion 31. Thelower sidewalls 34 a-34 d fold upon themselves and can be positioned tooverlie bottom 33, and disposed inwardly of zipper 44. Zipper 44 extendsaround and outwardly of the four sidewalls 34 a-34 d when collapsed andcan be zipped to conceal sidewalls 34 a-34 d between the zipper 44, thusjoining upper portion 31 adjacent to first luggage bag 20, as seen inFIGS. 1-7.

When in the expanded position, zipper 44 is unzipped to expose lowerportion 32, zipper 60 and hinge 61. Hinge 61 is disposed along at leasta portion of top edge 35 a of lower portion 32, so that lower portion 32is hingeably connected to upper portion 31. Hinge 61 allows lowerportion 32 to be moveable from an open position as seen in FIGS. 9-11 toa closed position (not shown). Zipper 60 has two conventional zippertracks, one of which extends around the upper edges 35 b-35 d of lowersidewalls 34 b-34 d and a portion of upper edge 35 a of sidewall 34 aand the other of which extends around a corresponding portion of thelower edges 37 a-37 d of upper portion 31, but disposed inwardly ofzipper 44. Zipper 60 can be unzipped to allow access to interiorcompartment 39 of lower portion 32. Upper portion 31 can be folded backvia hinge 61 to expose lower interior compartment 39. Zipper 60 can bezipped in order to close lower portion 32 of second luggage bag 30, torestrict access to interior compartment 39.

Additionally, as seen in FIGS. 9-10 in order to provide rigidity to theflexible sidewalls 34 a-34 d of lower portion 32 and, in turn, maintainthe expanded configuration, four generally rigid pivotable or foldablewalls 50 a-50 d are provided. Walls 50 a-50 d have a size whichgenerally corresponds to the size of four lower sidewalls 34 a-34 d,respectively. Lower sidewalls 34 a-34 d each have a lower edge and thelower edge of foldable walls 50 are each connected to the lower edges ofone of four lower sidewalls 34 a-34 d, to permit the foldable walls 50to pivot approximately 90 degrees from a generally horizontal positionto a generally vertical position. Particularly, each of foldable walls50 a-50 d are moveable from a flat position, such as wall 50 c in FIG.9, where foldable walls 50 a-50 d overlie closed bottom 33 of lowerportion 32 and a generally upright position, such as wall 50 a in FIG.10. Particularly, foldable walls 50 a-d are pivoted upright to eachoverlie a corresponding lower sidewall 34 a-34 d, to provide a generallyrigid lower portion 32.

Preferably, each of foldable walls 50 have a hook and loop fastener 52and each of lower sidewalls 34 a-34 d has a corresponding hook and loopfastener 54. Each of the hook and loop fasteners 52 on the foldablewalls 50 releasably engages with one of the hook and loop fasteners 54on the corresponding sidewall 34 a-34 d, in order to maintain foldablewalls 50 in their upright position to provide rigidity to lowersidewalls 34 a-34 d, and in turn, lower portion 32 of second luggage bag30.

In addition, as seen in FIGS. 9-11, second luggage bag 30 includes areleasable dividing wall 40 which is disposed between upper portion 31and lower portion 32, to permit interior compartments 39 and 43 to beseparate or joined together. When second luggage bag 30 is in theexpanded configuration, dividing wall 40 is movable from a closedposition, as seen in FIGS. 9 and 10, to an open position, as seen inFIG. 11. In the closed position, dividing wall 40 divides upper interiorcompartment 43 from lower interior compartment 39, to provide twoseparate luggage compartments within second luggage bag 30. In the openposition, upper interior compartment 43 is in communication with lowerinterior compartment 39, to provide for a single larger luggagecompartment within second luggage bag 30. Preferably, dividing wall 40has a flap 42 disposed therein and a zipper 45 extending around aportion of the periphery of flap 42, here three sides thereof. As seenin FIG. 11, zipper 45 can be unzipped to permit flap 42 to fold to, inturn, join interior compartments 39 and 43 together. As seen in FIGS.9-10, zipper 45 can be zipped to separate interior compartments 39 and43.

Second luggage 30 also has a pair of handles 70, each coupled to anopposite sidewall 36 a and 36 c, respectively, of upper portion 31 ofsecond luggage bag 30. Additionally, an optional shoulder strap (notshown) is removably securable to opposite ends of second luggage bag 30.In particular, two straps 73 are secured to one of side walls 37 b, 37 dof second luggage bag 30. Straps 73 each have a metal ring 74 on a freeend thereof which is attachable to a shoulder strap. When the shoulderstrap is not being utilized, the free ends of straps 73 can be securedto the sides of second luggage bag 30 via two second straps 75 providedon sidewalls 36 b and 36 d, having a loop formed therein and a snapfastener. Free ends of second straps 75 are each inserted into a metalring 74 and each of second straps 75 are looped and connected to one ofsidewalls 36 b and 36 d. However, it can be appreciated that other meansfor fastening the shoulder strap can be utilized and the locationsthereof can be altered. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the second luggagebag 30 also includes an outer compartment 80 which is accessible via aflap 81.

The preferred dimensions of the luggage 10 in the non-expanded orcollapsed configuration, as seen in FIGS. 1-7 are approximately 21⅛″ inlength, 10″ in width, and 15½″ in height. In the fully expandedconfiguration (best seen in FIGS. 9-11) the luggage 10 has dimensions ofapproximately 21⅛″ in length, 10″ in width, and 20½″ in height.Therefore, it can be appreciated that the luggage 10 gains approximatelyan additional 5″ in height and 1,056¼″ cubic inches by the expansion ofsecond luggage bag 30. Of course, it is understood that dimensions canbe varied to suit a particular need or desired volume increase ordecrease.

The luggage is preferably made of a durable yet pliable fabric, such as,for example, 1680 Ballistic Nylon, and accentuated with faux crocodilepatent trim, but can be constructed from other suitable materials. Theluggage can appear in different colors, or have unique identifyingindicia thereon to visual identify and distinguish the luggage. Othersuitable constructions, including the utilization of more than threeseparate and distinct compartments, along with the associated expandablecompartments are possible. Other suitable constructions, including avariation of the size, number, and location of pockets, both inside andoutside of the luggage, are possible.

Thus, while particular embodiments of the invention have been described,it is not intended that the invention be limited thereto, as it isintended that the invention be as broad in scope as the prior art willallow and that the specification be read likewise. It will therefore beappreciated by those skilled in the art that other modifications couldbe made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention.

What is claimed is:
 1. An expandable multi-compartment luggage,comprising: a first luggage bag having four sidewalls, and a closedbottom which define a first interior compartment therebetween; a secondluggage bag hingeably attached via a first hinge to said first luggagebag and moveable between a first closed position whereby said secondluggage bag is connected to said first luggage bag to restrict access tosaid interior compartment of said first luggage bag, and a second openposition to provide access to said interior compartment of said firstluggage bag, wherein said second luggage bag has an upper portion and acollapsible lower portion, wherein said upper portion is hingeablyattached via a second hinge to said collapsible lower portion, saidcollapsible lower portion having a closed bottom and four lowersidewalls, each having an upper edge collectively defining an upper rimand said upper portion having four generally upstanding upper sidewallsdefining an upper interior compartment therebetween, each of said uppersidewalls having a lower edge collectively defining a lower rim at leasta portion of which is releasably coupleable to a portion of said upperrim of said lower portion, wherein said upper portion has an upper rimdefining an openable top, and wherein said collapsible lower portion ismoveable between a collapsed position to an expanded position, saidexpanded position defining a lower interior compartment between saidclosed bottom and four lower sidewalls of said lower portion; and adividing wall disposed between said upper and lower portions of saidsecond luggage bag, said dividing wall being movable from a closedposition dividing said upper interior compartment of said second luggagebag and said lower interior compartment of said second luggage bag andan open position wherein said upper interior compartment of said secondluggage bag is in communication with said lower interior compartment ofsaid second luggage bag, wherein said first hinge and said second hingeare disposed on the same side of said luggage, and wherein in saidcollapsed position, said four lower sidewalls of said lower portion ofsaid second luggage bag are concealed between said dividing wall andsaid closed bottom of said lower portion of said second luggage bag. 2.The luggage according to claim 1, further comprising: a first zipper,wherein said four sidewalls of said first luggage bag each have a topedge and said second luggage bag is hingeably attached to said top edgeof one of said sidewalls of said first luggage bag and said first zipperextends around said top edges of said other three sidewalls of saidfirst luggage bag.
 3. The luggage according to claim 1, furthercomprising: a plurality of wheels and a handle attached to said firstluggage bag.
 4. The luggage according to claim 1, further comprising:four generally rigid foldable walls which have a size which generallycorresponds to the size of said four lower sidewalls of said secondluggage bag and wherein said four lower sidewalls each have a lower edgeand said foldable walls are each hingeably connected to one of said fourlower sidewalls generally adjacent to said lower edge and are pivotablymoveable from a flat position wherein said foldable walls overlie saidclosed bottom of said lower portion and a generally upright positionwherein said foldable walls each overlie one of said lower sidewalls. 5.The luggage according to claim 4, wherein: each of said foldable wallshas a hook and loop fastener and each of said lower sidewalls of saidsecond luggage bag has a corresponding hook and loop faster, each ofwhich releasably engages with one of said hook and loop fasteners onsaid foldable walls, to maintain said foldable walls in said uprightposition.
 6. The luggage according to claim 1, wherein: said dividingwall has a flap disposed therein and a zipper extending around a portionof the periphery of said flap.
 7. The luggage according to claim 1,further comprising: a second zipper extending around said lower portionof said second luggage bag for maintaining said lower portion in saidcollapsed position with said four lower sidewalls and said closed bottomof said lower portion concealed between said second zipper.
 8. Theluggage according to claim 1, further comprising: a third zipper whichextends around said upper edge of three of said lower sidewalls of saidlower portion of said second luggage bag.
 9. The luggage according toclaim 1, further comprising: a pair of handles, each coupled to anopposite sidewall of said upper portion of said second luggage bag.